Honda Adds 1M Civics, Accords To Passenger Air Bag Recall
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The largest recall in U.S. history is getting even bigger.
One-point-four million Hondas with Takata air bag inflators are being re-added to the recall list.
This is because the 2001-2005 Civics and 2003-2007 Accords now need to have the front passenger-side air bag fixed. The driver's side air bags in these cars were already recalled.
In all 34 million cars, SUVs and trucks made by nearly a dozen automakers are affected by the Takata recall.
The inflators inside the air bag can explode, sending shrapnel flying. We know that at least seven deaths and more than 100 injuries have been tied to these defective air bag inflators nationwide.
WCCO reported on a North Oaks woman who was blinded after her air bag exploded in a minor crash two years ago.
Service departments are working hard to keep up with appointments for replacements, and in some cases hiring more technicians.
Jason Weverka is the service manager at Richfield Bloomington Honda.
"If we have your air bag here, we can get you in the same day. We are roughly doing 35 to 50 day at this point," Weverka said. "It is a lot."
Weverka says they have been able to meet the demand for replacement air bag inflators since additional manufacturers of replacement parts were added about a month ago.
"We did at first have some back order concerns, and Honda's been very good at picking up the rental bill and taking care of any alternate transportation that the guest needs at this point," he said.
But in some parts of the country -- like Oakland, California -- replacement parts are on back order, and drivers have been told it may be weeks or months before they can get their air bags fixed.
The federal government is urging drivers to find out if their vehicle is affected as the recall list continues to grow.
"It's pretty much an industry-wide recall at this point, so I think a lot of people understand that it's not necessarily Honda," Weverka said.
Eleven automakers, both foreign and domestic, are dealing with the Takata problem. The list includes Ford, GM, Toyota, BMW and Nissan.
As dealerships deal with calls from concerned drivers, some are also hiring more staff to help out.
"We've hired five additional technicians to keep up with the volume, and that has kept up with the volume very well," Weverka said. "We've hired a couple extra advisors to help out with the customers in the service aisle right away, and that has helped."
He says there are about 46,000 Hondas on the road here in the Twin Cities that need to have the air bag inflator replaced.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has a website you can go to and enter your vehicle's VIN number, and it will tell you if you are affected.
